Wash your hands regularly, sneeze into your elbow, throw away your used handkerchief ... To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Health has drawn up a list of recommendations to follow. Non-binding, these measures could harden if the epidemic worsens, and multiply while France now has 38 cases.
Hospitals "ready" and masks ordered. Calling not to give in to “fear and worry”, at the end of a meeting this Thursday in Matignon, Edouard Philippe estimated that France was at the first stage of a gradation scale which takes into account three. "If decisions heavier for the daily life of our compatriots were to be taken, the government under the authority of the President of the Republic would obviously not have a shaking hand," said the head of government. The director general of health recalled this Thursday evening that "138 hospitals are ready to receive patients". As of Wednesday, the Minister of Health had announced the destocking of 15 million masks which will be sent gradually to health professionals.
Towards new measures in companies. According to the Ministry of Health, companies are currently simply encouraged to encourage teleworking. But more stringent measures could be taken. Trade unions and employers' organizations will be received by the Ministers of Labor and Health at a meeting this Friday "to take stock" of the coronavirus and "measures to be taken in companies", they announced Thursday in a communicated. Some companies have already gone further. L'Oréal, for example, suspended the business trips of its employees until the end of March. Two days earlier, the Swiss food giant Nestlé had also announced the suspension of its business trips, but only until March 15. The Director General of Health, for his part, enjoined the people in contact with the patients to "respect the fortnight" when it is asked of them.
Demonstrations canceled. Last day of Nice Carnival, Lemon Festival of Menton… several events have been canceled in recent days. And others could follow, especially in the sports world. On the eve of L 1 and L 2 days, the Professional Football League says it is following the development of the coronavirus epidemic "with the greatest attention", adding that it has received "no new instructions from the public authorities": "If measures are taken, we will apply them and we will adapt." While the Paris half-marathon was maintained on Sunday, the Minister of Sports Roxana Maracineanu wants to avoid any psychosis: "What is frightening is the uncertainty around the virus and not the virus itself. Should we block everything, when it is not proportional to the reality of the danger? "
